Field honors Pete LePage before start of final Norwood Beach Duathlon

NORWOOD - The final race of the 2014 Norwood Beach Duathlon Series drew its biggest field of the summer on Tuesday.

But before the nearly 90 competitors headed out, they took the time to honor one of the events founders.

Pete LePage, who passed away last week after being stricken while competing in the cycling stage of a duathlon in Ogdensburg and was laid to rest on Monday, was remembered by friends, family and fellow road warriors.

“He really meant a lot to a lot of people,” said Josh Eng, who took over the organizing reins of the duathlon this summer from LePage and Steve Barr, who started the event 20 years ago.

“Pete was a big reason that we have this series. He’s definitely going to be missed,” Eng added.

Jason Schreer posted the fastest individual time of the race, which was staged in near-perfect conditions, when he led the men’s division in 39:58. Stephanie Rogers completed her sweep of the three-race series in leading the women’s division with a time of 44:50. The duo of Eric Bolt and Bryan Parker combined to lead the team division in a time of 37:06.

Rounding out the top five in the men’s division were Jacob Malcomb in 40:58, Chad Colbert in 42:13, Ethan Townsend in 42:45 and Adam Terko in 43:31.

The next four finishers in the women’s division were April Barnes in 50:33, Margie Harmer in 50:39, Emily Cotey in 51:02 and Amy Hollister in 51:05.

Placing second-fifth in the team division were; Jonathan Eng and Ethan Kelley in 38:35, Kaycie Saucier and Kent Fetter in 40:45, David Barnes and Chaz Agen in 41:07, Josh Stokes and Kristie Betrus in 42:18.

Each of the three races featured an eight-mile bike ride sandwiched between a pair of one and a-half mile runs. All the proceeds raised from the series is slated to benefit the John Purvis Memorial Scholarship Fund at Norwood-Norfolk Central.